Student Attendance

Students are required to attend the first class meeting of courses for which they registered. Registered students not attending the first day of the semester may be dropped from the course(s) at the discretion of the instructor (only some departments follow this procedure, as it is optional. Please drop your course if you will not be attending). Students who are unable to attend the first class meeting due to circumstances beyond their control must notify the instructor of the course prior to the first class meeting. Students who add courses or late-register during the add/drop period will not be dropped for non-attendance by the instructor during this period.

Students are expected to attend all of their scheduled classes to satisfy all academic objectives as outlined by the instructor. Instructors may establish specific attendance requirements. These attendance requirements must be published in the course syllabus and disseminated at the first class meeting. It is the student's responsibility to give the instructor notice prior to any anticipated absence, and within a reasonable amount of time after an unanticipated absence. The instructor has the right to deal with individual cases of non-attendance and to determine the effect of absences upon grades.

In the event of absences due to participation in a University-sponsored activity, instructors must allow students the opportunity to make up work due during such absences. However, it is the student's responsibility to make prior arrangements with the instructor to hand-in written materials (e.g., assignments, papers and projects) and to reschedule any activities that would normally occur during class (e.g., quizzes, tests, presentations and performances).

Instructors use a variety of means to determine the extent to which a student has met the objectives of a course. Students absent due to participation in University-sponsored activities can expect their course grades to be determined based on their performance on graded material and activities. There should not be any reduction in a student's final course grade simply because he/she was absent due to a University-sponsored activity.

For the purposes of this process, a University-sponsored activity means any activity on or off campus which is initiated, aided, authorized or supervised by the University, such as academic field/study trips, TLO activities, intercollegiate athletic events (competition and travel related to competition; does not include practice), official meetings of student government leaders, University programming and international travel. In case of a disagreement about whether an activity constitutes a University-sponsored activity, the Provost shall make the determination.

Students who have been administratively dropped from a class roster for failure to pay fees or for any other reason may continue attendance until the reinstatement deadline, as published in the Academic Calendar.

Only those students who are enrolled in classes are permitted to attend class beyond the reinstatement period. Special guests may be permitted to attend specific class sessions with the permission of the instructor.

Non-attendance does not guarantee a student will be dropped from a course. The student is fee liable for all courses for which he/she is registered unless the student initiates a drop during the add/drop period as published in the Academic Calendar.